Horqueta ( gn, Orkéta) is a city of
Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...
, in the
department of Concepción, located 50 kilometers from
Concepción City and 428 kilometers from
Asunción
Asunción (, , , Guarani: Paraguay) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay.
The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of ...
. It is established in a hill.
Toponimy
The name of the city has its origin in the name of an intersection of roads called "Tapé Horqueta", where carts camped after long journeys.
Geography
The town of Horqueta it is settled on a hill, after the intersection of roads.
Climate
The temperature reaches 40 °C in summer and drops to −2 °C in winter. The average is 20 °C. The time of abundant rains is November, December and January, and the dry season is from June to September. The winds come from the North, East and South-East.
Demography
Horqueta has a population of 55,882 inhabitants, 28,936 men and 26,947 women, according to the General Direction of Statistics, Poll and Census.
History
The city started with a chapel, in the 18th century, founded officially in 1793. It was the first city with a pedestrian street in the country.
It is the second most important city in the Concepción department.
Economy
In this region the most important economical activity is the agriculture, there are plantations of cotton plants, spurge, beans, manioc, corn, fruits. There also are
yerba mate
Yerba mate or yerba-maté (''Ilex paraguariensis''; from Spanish ; pt, erva-mate, or ; gn, ka'a, ) is a plant species of the holly genus ''Ilex'' native to South America. It was named by the French botanist Augustin Saint-Hilaire. The leave ...
mills, oil industries, forestall exploit and
cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus ''Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor perce ...
desmotadora.
It is considered the "National Capital of Ka’a He’e" (a sweetener plant).
Another important activity is the craftsmanship of leather and also the cattle.
Transportation
Located 428 kilometers from Asunción, it is possible to access to the city traveling the Route No. 3 "Gral. Elizardo Aquino" and reaching Yby Yau taking Route No. 5 "Gral. Bernardino Caballero".
From Horqueta, it is possible to access to the city
Tacuatí
Tacuatí is a town and distrito in Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argen ...
, in
San Pedro.
Tourism
45 kilometers from Concepción, by the Route to Vallemí, in the banks of the Aquidabán River, there is the Paso Horqueta, a place with beaches of white sand and ideal for camping.
The Bridge Paso Horqueta is a monumental and picturesque wood bridge over the river.
References
* Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007.
* Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL.
External links
Secretaria Nacional de TurismoDirección General de Estadísticas, Encuestas y CensosWorld Gazeteer: Paraguay
{cbignore, bot=medic – World-Gazetteer.com
Populated places in Concepción Department, Paraguay